Friday, September 19, 2008

Dealing with Fleas

Fleas vary as greatly as they are annoying – in size, type, lifespan and hardiness! Some fleas are easy to get rid of and others once around tend to stick or return again and again. As a pet owner you would definitely want to know how to get rid of fleas and also how to prevent them!

Your pets are at risk of picking up fleas anytime that they are outdoors – in bushes, grass and sand and also when they come into contact with other animals (or people) who are already carrying the pesky parasite. Fleas like to stick to warm skin areas so when you are checking your cat or dog, be sure to look in the key areas: their ears, the base of their tail, the stomach area and the top of the neck. Fleas will also usually keep close to skin so you will need to take a proper look under your pet’s fur.

An adult female flea lays white round eggs and she can lay up to 50 per day and can lay anything from 500-600 eggs over several months. It does not take major mathematical skills to work out that if fleas are not dealt with you could be sitting with a miniature epidemic on your hands!